ROANOKE - Potential problems with water conservation and building permits in Roanoke were averted in recent weeks, thanks to the cooperation of residents.

The village had asked residents to cut back on water usage after the water plant pumped 500,000 gallons in one day and ran 19 hours in mid-June. Hot, dry weather led to the extreme usage and stressed the water plant, water chairman Bob Peterson said.

"We asked the public to back off, and we saw some improvement because of that," Peterson said. "There was a peak in there, and then we had enough rain to make up for it."

The village also asked residents to call zoning officer Dave Haney before beginning any construction projects to ask if they need a permit. Haney recently noticed some residents starting projects without a permit.

Since the village had notified residents about the problem in June, Haney said, the number of phone calls from residents asking for information about building permits had tripled.

"Maybe it would be a good idea if we reminded people (about the need for building permits) every year in the spring when construction begins," board member Bob Isaia said.

Bulk water sales - Minonk Mayor Bill Koos wants council members to make a motion either to adhere to the ordinance strictly or to change the ordinance to allow bulk water sales.

Currently, the ordinance bans bulk water sales from fire hydrants. Fire hydrants are only intended to be used when fighting fires and in the flushing of hydrants.

Right now residents can purchase bulk water to fill their swimming pools from public works; however, the self-serve apparatus has proven unreliable in the past few weeks.

"This is our first attempt at using a token machine, and a week after it was up and running, it went down," council member Brian Petersen said.

Koos said if the city allowed for bulk water sales from the hydrants, at least 500 feet of fire hose would have to be purchased to accommodate residents. The council tabled the issue until the next city council meeting, when city administrator Trent Smith will be present.

Passport applications - The Woodford County circuit clerk's office now accepts passport applications on behalf of the U. S. Department of State.

Residents planning international travel may apply for passports weekdays from 8 a.m. 2 p.m. in Room 201 of the Woodford County Courthouse, 115 N. Main St., Eureka.

"All citizens traveling outside of the United States now require passports as a result of stricter federal requirements," Circuit Clerk Carol Newtson said. "My staff and I are happy to provide this much-needed service to Woodford County and all citizens."

Disaster funds - The village of Benson will receive about $2,660 from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for the overtime hours employees worked following the Dec. 1 icestorm that struck the area.

The village applied for the funds in April after Central Illinois was officially declared a disaster area.